About 100 family, friends and colleagues attended a private funeral service at Buckfast Abbey on Wednesday for the former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, who died earlier this month after a severe assault at her home in Devon.
Service held at abbey she called her ‘safe haven’
The ceremony, described in the order of service as a 90-minute requiem mass, took place at the Catholic abbey in Buckfastleigh where Widdecombe regularly worshipped. The abbey has been publicly praised by mourners and clergy alike; in a statement it paid tribute to her “sharp intellect” and her commitment to public service, and noted the role her Roman Catholic faith played in her life.
“In the midst of the shock, clamour and sometimes unwarranted comment surrounding her death, our response is to pray for the repose of her soul, to give thanks for her fortitude, and offer Holy Mass in this abbey church, which Ann called her safe haven.”
The words were delivered by the Rt Rev David Charlesworth, the abbot of Buckfast, who gave a homily during the mass. The order of service also listed tributes to be given by the Rev Roger Widdecombe, her nephew, and Christian Sweeting, a close friend.
Police presence and investigation
Police officers and sniffer dogs were visible at the abbey grounds before the service. The circumstances of Widdecombe’s death remain the subject of a criminal investigation: she died on 8 July, aged 78, after being struck repeatedly at her home in Haytor. Media reports say she was hit with a hammer on multiple occasions.
A man has been charged in connection with the killing. Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was charged with murder on 20 July and is expected to face proceedings in due course. The police have not released further detail beyond the charge.
Political and media figures among mourners
The gathering included politicians and broadcasters. Those named as slated to attend included the shadow chancellor Mel Stride, the former Conservative justice minister Crispin Blunt and broadcaster Iain Dale. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not attend the abbey service; it is understood he did not wish to be a distraction. He is expected to attend a public memorial planned for later this year.
The funeral was private. Around the abbey, photographers recorded arrivals but the service itself was confined to invited mourners and clergy.
Tributes and donations
Buckfast Abbey said Widdecombe was a person of deep faith whose convictions were formed through that faith and who expressed them in public life. The order of service indicated that donations would be made in her memory; details were not specified in the material released by the abbey.
- Service: 90-minute requiem mass at Buckfast Abbey
- Attendance: About 100 family, friends and colleagues
- Death: 8 July; aged 78
- Charge: Joshua Kerry, 28, charged with murder on 20 July
| Named attendees | Role |
|---|---|
| Mel Stride | Shadow Chancellor (named as slated to attend) |
| Crispin Blunt | Former Conservative justice minister |
| Iain Dale | Broadcaster |
The death of a former minister and the charging of a suspect have continued to draw national attention. The abbey’s decision to hold a private mass reflected the family’s wish for a contained ceremony; organisers and the police maintained a presence at the site while mourners gathered.
Further public commemorations are expected later in the year, including a memorial that reform party figures may attend. The criminal proceedings against the man charged will continue through the courts in the coming weeks and months.
